Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) comprises of extra-hepatic cholangiocarcinoma and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma cancers as a result of inflammation of epithelium cell lining of the bile duct. The incidence rate is increasing dramatically worldwide with highest rates in Eastern and South Asian regions. Major risk factors involve chronic damage and inflammation of bile duct epithelium from primary sclerosing cholangitis, chronic hepatitis virus infection, gallstones and liver fluke infection. Various genetic variants have also been identified and as CCA develops on the background of biliary inflammation, diverse range of molecular mechanisms are involved in its progression. Among these, the Notch signalling pathway acts as a major driver of cholangiocarcinogenesis and its components (receptors, ligands and downstream signalling molecules) represent a promising therapeutic targets. Gamma-Secretase Inhibitors have been recognized in inhibiting the Notch pathway efficiently. A comprehensive knowledge of the molecular pathways activated by the Notch signalling cascade as well as its functional crosstalk with other signalling pathways provide better approach in developing innovative therapies against CCA.

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Since mid-December 2019, several cases of a pneumonia like disease (with symptoms including fever, difficulty in breathing, cough and invasive lesions on both lungs) of unknown cause have emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. Chinese authorities made a preliminary determination that the causative agent is a novel coronavirus(2019-nCoV). Coronaviruses are enveloped RNA viruses belonging to Coronaviridae family and the order Nidovirales. This subfamily consists of four genera alphacoronavirus, betacoronavirus, gammacoronavirus and deltacoronavirus on the basis of their phylogenetic relationships and genomic structures. These subfamilies are broadly distributed for causing infections in humans and other mammals. The alphacoronaviruses and betacoronaviruses infect only mammals. The gammacoronaviruses and deltacoronaviruses infect birds, but some of them can also infect mammals. The source of betacoronavirus 2019-nCoV is still unknown, although initial cases have been linked with south Huanan seafood market. Viral infections already known to produce similar symptoms are influenza, parainfluenza, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV) and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV). Laboratory investigations reported raised plasma levels of L2, IL7, IL10, GSCF, IP10, MCP1, MIP1A, and TNF? in patients.

: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD), primarily inflammatory cardiomyopathy, are characterized by the infiltration of inflammatory cells into the myocardium. It has a relatively high risk of deteriorating heart function and has heterogeneous etiologies. Inflammatory cardiomyopathy is mainly mediated by viral infections but can also be mediated by protozoa, fungal or bacterial infections. Besides that, there are a wide variety of drugs, toxic substances, and systemic immune-mediated diseases that result in the development of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Despite broad research, inflammatory cardiomyopathy has a poor prognosis. The roles of the pathogens, host genomic counterparts and environmental triggers in the progression of disease are still under consideration, including the role of some viruses as active inducers and others as bystanders. In this review article, we review the available evidence on the types, pathogenesis and treatment of myocarditis, inflammatory cardiomyopathy, and atherosclerosis with a particular focus on virus-associated cardiac diseases.

Background: Some 200 million people worldwide have haemoglobinopathies of some sort. Pakistan, where 80% consanguinity prevails because of marriages within caste groups that are anthropologically same. The study aims to reveal the impact of consanguinity on thalassemia in various castes in Punjab, Pakistan. Subjects and Methods: 262 β-thalassemic patient families were studied. Patients were registered in various Thalassemia Blood Transfusion Hospitals/Centers, in the metropolitan city of Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan. Patients and parents were interviewed using structured questionnaire regarding information about name, age, sex, ethnicity (caste), educational status, consanguinity of parents, number of progenies, health status of children, pregnancy wastage and family history. Results: The 262 (couples) parents of β-thalassemic patients revealed 96% consanguineous marriages with 72% first cousins, 10% distant blood relatives and 14% Bradari. Inter-castes marriages were 4% only. These families produced 1646 children, 582 males and 464 females. Of these, 303 boys and 293 girls are healthy, while 279 boys and 171 girls are thalassemic. In 26 castes, the prevalence of thalassemia varied from 21% to 3%. Rajput tribe on top followed by Arain. Conclusion: Thalassemia is widely spread in Pakistani population. Its prevalence varied in caste groups due to endogamy, a major impact on the prevalence of thalassemia.